Ex-Cops Admit To Painting Swastika On Impounded Car

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Two former Torrance police officers pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony vandalism charge stemming from a swastika that was found spray-painted inside an impounded vehicle just over five years ago.

Christopher Tomsic and Cody Weldin, both 32, were immediately sentenced to two years probation and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and 15 hours in an anti-racism class, along with completing a tour of the Museum of Tolerance as a result of the plea agreement with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Tomsic and Weldin were also ordered to surrender their certification that allowed them to be police officers in California, and to pay just over $400 in court fees and fines.

Attorneys for the two are expected to ask Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta to reduce the felony count to a misdemeanor, which could subsequently result in the case being expunged.

A second count — conspiracy to commit vandalism — was dismissed against the two as a result of the plea deal.

Tomsic's attorney, Lisa Houle, said after the plea, "On behalf of Christopher Tomsic, he has been willing and has in fact accepted responsibility virtually from the beginning of this case. He is remorseful. He apologizes to the Torrance Police Department and the community for the harm that he has caused and the trust that he violated."

Weldin's attorney, Tom Yu, called the plea agreement "a fair resolution for all sides."

Both defense lawyers said their clients were moving on with their lives.

"Vandalizing property with hateful messages is reprehensible and violates the oath police officers take to uphold the law and protect and serve their communities," District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement issued shortly after the two were sentenced. "I commend the Torrance Police Department for swiftly taking action against these officers to relieve them of their duties."

The district attorney noted that the two will "never again work as police officers in our state."

Tomsic and Weldin were among a group of officers who responded to a Jan. 27, 2020, call about three men who had stolen mail from an apartment building, and were led to a vehicle that may have been used in the crime and was subsequently taken to a tow yard, according to prosecutors.

"When the vehicle's owner arrived to pick up the car, he found a happy face that had been spray-painted on the front seat of the vehicle and on the rear seat there was a symbol of a swastika," then-District Attorney George Gascón told reporters at a news conference when charges were announced in August 2021.

Torrance Police Chief Jeremiah Hart said at the time that the two officers were "no longer employed" by the city.

The police chief noted that the department initiated a criminal investigation as soon as it was notified of the allegations in January 2020 and subsequently submitted recommendations to the District Attorney's Office that criminal charges be filed against the former officers.

"Let me be clear, I will aggressively pursue any form of racism, bigotry, hate or misconduct at the Torrance Police Department," Hart said.

In March 2023, attorney Jerry L. Steering announced that the city of Torrance had paid $750,000 to the vehicle's owner, Kiley Swaine of Redondo Beach. Swaine discovered his 2004 Hyundai Elantra had been vandalized when he went to a tow yard to retrieve the car after being released from jail.

"I have been suing police officers for 39 years, and I have never seen anything like this," Steering said then.

City News Service